Marking device



Dec. 9, 1952 F. G. DREssEL MARKING DEVICE Filed Feb. ll, 1950 IIVVENTOR. g Ma@ -Jdy Patented Dec. 9, 1952 MARKING DEVICE Fred G. Dressel, Buffalo, N. Y., assignor of onehalf to Rollinson W. Poucher, Buffalo, N. Y.

Application February 11, 1950, Serial No. 143,731

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to marking devices and particularly to such devices which are adapted for use in painting signs, placards, and the like.

It is an object of the invention to provide a marking device which is easy to use and is selflling during periods of non-use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a marking device in which the flow of marking fluid is regulated automatically but may be varied if desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide a marking device which is of simple and inexpensive construction and which has no parts which may get out of order.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a marking device which is compact and which may readily be carried from place to place without danger of leakage or spilling.

, Additional objects of the invention will be evident from the following specification taken in commotion with the drawings, in which:

l Figure 1 is an elevational view of a marking device constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, but with the vbase or reservoir of the marking device shown in section;

Figure 3 is a view, taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, which is similar to Figure 2 but shows the entire marking device in section;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view on line 4 4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view on line 5,--5 of Figure 1 and AvFigure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view similar to Figure 3 with the tip or nib of the brush turned through 90 degrees.

4 The novel marking device of the present invention comprises two principal parts, a base or reservoir I and a brush II which are adapted to fit and be used together, thus constituting a unit.

. The reservoir IIl is cup-like and is preferably formed of glass, plastic material or of corrosion resistant metal. The reservoir as it is depicted inthe drawings is circular in cross section with an open top, but it will be understood that reservoirs having cross sections of any desired shape may be used. On the exterior of its upper end, adjacent the open top thereof, the reservoir I0 is preferably provided with molded or cut threads I4. A closure comprising a screw-type cap I having threads IE corresponding to those on the reservoir I0 is provided for the open top ofthe latter. The cap I5 is provided, preferably 2 v at the vcenter thereof, with an opening. Surrounding the opening on the concave or lower face of the cap I5 there is provided an annular reinforcing ring I3 which may be secured to the cap in any suitable way or, if desired. may be formed integrally therewith as an axially extending, downwardly-directed flange around the edge of the opening. The cap I5 is preferably formed of metal but other suitable materials may be used.

Fitting within the opening in the cap I5 and extending downwardly into the marking iiuid I9 in the reservoir II) when the cap is in position on the top of the reservoir is a feeder tube 20. The tube 20 is preferably cylindrical in shape and is provided on its open upper end with an outwardly turned, annular bead or liange 2| which serves as a sto-p on the top of the cap I5 to prevent the tube from passing completely through the opening in the cap. Preferably the tube 20 is constructed of metal or durable plastic material. When the tube 2li is in position and the cap I5 is screwed in place on the reservoir I0, the open bottom of the tube preferably extends more than half way to the bottom of the reservoir I0.

Held within the tube 20 there is a porous, resilient, absorbent filler 22. The filler 22 does not entirely fill the tube 20 but leaves in the upper end thereof a well 23. The lower end of the filler 22 preferably extends beyond the lower end of the tube 20 to a point in close proximity to the bottom of the reservoir I0. Various materials may be used in forming the ller 22, such as, for example, eithervnatural or cellulose sponge, foam rubber, or felt. The latter. however, is preferred as it is obtainable in a large number of grades so that the proper absorbency and resiliency may be readily obtained. A plurality of slits 24 are provided in the sides of the ,feeder tube 29 which permit free access of the marking fluid in the reservoir I Il to the portion of the ller within the tube.

Although the brush II is shown in the drawings as having a tubular barrel 26 which is cylindrical in shape, it may, of course, be formed in other shapes if desired. The barrel 26 is', however, preferably constructed of iiexible plastic material such as, for example, cellulose acetate or polyethylene, and it is elongated to facilitate the grasping of the brush by the user. One end 2l of the barrel 26 of the brush I I is closed While the other end is open and is flared outwardly to provide an annular bead or anged rim 28. The vtubular barrel 26 is filled from a point near with the present invention may be indicated in any suitable way as by painting or otherwise coloring either the reservoir or the brush barrel or, if desired, either or both of these parts may be of clear, uncolored material so that the color of the fluid contents may be seen.

The resilience and porosity of the felt preferably used in forming the porous, absorbent, resilient filler 22, packing 29 and nib 30 of the marking device may be chosen to suit the needs of a particular user or the demands of a particular type of use. Thus for a use in which very free flow for frequent short intervals of time is required, as contrasted with average use, the felt should be somewhat softer and more porous so that the marking fluid will feed to the nib more rapidly than. would be the case with a harder, denser felt, and furthermore, the brush will be refilled more rapidly when it is replaced in the reservoir.

Although, as shown in the drawings, the ller in the feeder tube and the packing in the barrel of the brush Il are formed in small sections, this is not essential and either or both of these elements may be formed as unitary members, if desired. It will be understood that the packing 29 and liller 22 may be replaced, if desired, by other porous, resilient, absorbent material or by felt of a different grade. The nib 3i) may also be easily replaced whenever desired by a nib of different shape, material, or marking characteristics.

I claim:

l. A self-filling marking device comprising in combination a reservoir adapted to contain marking iiuid and a brush removably carried in said reservoir, said reservoir comprising a cap, a filler tube having an vopen end extending through said cap and the other end extending into said reservoir, a slit in the side wall of said tube, and a porous, resilient, absorbent filler Within said tube adapted to absorb marking fluid contained within said reservoir, said brush comprising an elongated, one-piece, flexible tubular barrel closed at one end and having its open end disposed Within said tube, a porous, resilient, absorbent packing within the open end of said barrel and providing an unlled chamber at the closed end of said barrel, a porous, resilient, absorbent nib in contact with said packing and extending outwardly from the open end of said barrel, and a nger opening through the wall of said barrel and communicating with said chamber and adapted to be closed by the users nger before or after compression of said flexible barrel to establish a condition of pressure or vacuum in said barrel.

2. A self-filling marking device comprising in combination a reservoir adapted to Contain marking fluid and a brush removably carried in said reservoir, said reservoir comprising a cap, a cylindrical ller tube open at both ends and having one end extending through said cap and the other end extending into said reservoir, and a porous, resilient, absorbent filler within said tube adapted to absorb marking fluid contained within said reservoir, said brush comprising an elongated, one-piece, tubular barrel of exible material having an open end provided with a radially outwardly extending bead fitting closely Within said tube, a porous, resilient, absorbent packing within said barrel, and a nib of porous,

resilient, absorbent material in contact with said packing and extending outwardly from said open end of said barrel.

3. A self-lilling marking device comprising in combination a reservoir adapted to contain marking fluid and a brush removably carried in said reservoir, said reservoir comprising a cap, a filler tube open at both ends and having one end extending through said cap and the other end extending into said reservoir, and a porous, resilient, absorbent filler Within said tube adapted to absorb marking duid contained within said reservoir, said brush comprising an elongated, one-piece, tubular barrel of flexible material closed at one end, an outwardly projecting integral annular flange at the open end of said barrel and closely fitting within said tube, a porous, resilient, absorbent packing within the open end of said barrel and providing an unfilled chamber at the closed end of said barrel, a nib of porous, resilient, absorbent material in contact with said packing and extending outwardly from the open end of said barrel, and a finger opening through the wall of said barrel and communicating with said chamber and adapted to be closed by the users finger before or after compression of said iiexible barrel to establish a condition of pressure or vacuum in said barrel.

l. A self-lling marking device comprising in combination a reservoir adapted to contain marking fluid and having an opening in the top thereof, a cap for said opening threadedly engaging said reservoir, a filler tube open at both ends depending from said cap and having one of said ends opening through said cap, said tube having slits in the side wall thereof, a porous, resilient, absorbent ller within said tube and occupying a substantial portion of the length thereof, said filler extending beyond the lower end of said tube and being adapted to absorb marking fluid contained in said reservoir, a brush removably carried in said tube and having an elongated, one-piece, tubular barrel of flexible material closed at one end, the open end of said tubular barrel being enlarged to t closely Within said tube, a porous, resilient, absorbent packing within the open end of said barrel and providing an unfilled chamber at the closed end of said barrel, and a nib of porous, resilient, absorbent material extending outwardly from the open end of said barrel, said nib being in rm contact With said packing and being adapted to directly contact said filler when said brush is inserted in said tube, and said barrel being provided with a finger opening through the wall thereof and communicating with said chamber and adapted to be closed by the users finger before or after compression of said flexible barrel to establish a condition of pressure or vacuum in said barrel.

FRED G. DRESSEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 110,978 Kellogg Jan. 17, 1871 426,622 Madden Apr. 29, 1890 643,803 Schott Feb. 20, 1900 813,813 Munroe L Feb. 27, 1906 

